…As PWDAN holds maiden annual conference
Stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector have commended the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distribution Association of Nigeria (PDWAN) for its effort geared towards achieving a seamless distribution of pharmaceutical products in the country.
PWDAN held its maiden annual conference on Thursday, 26 May 2022, exactly one year after its inauguration with the aim of bringing sanity to the drug supply chain in the country, which has since been described as chaotic. The theme of the conference is “Pharmaceutical Supply Chain in Nigeria- Quo Vadis”.
Dignitaries from various subsector of the pharmaceutical industry that attended the conference applauded the birth of PWDAN and expressed their desires to work with the association to enable the country to have a robust and sane pharmaceutical supply chain.
The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PCN), Professor Cyril Usifoh described PWDAN as a child of necessity that has come up to perfect the needful in pharmaceutical product distribution in the Nigeria. Usifoh who was represented at the event by the national treasurer of the society, Pharm. Gafar ‘Lanre Madehin commended the effort of the association since its birthed, noting that efforts are ongoing in the right direction to perfect the nation’s drug distribution system.
The National Chairman, Association of Industrial pharmacists (NAIP), Pharm. Ken Onuegbu also commended the association for the initiative to put things right in drug supply chain. He said “what you are doing is complimentary with what NAIP stands for. It will go a long way to put the industry in good shape. We will continue to work with PDWAN”.
The National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria Pharm. Adewale Oladigbolu on his part expressed optimism that with PDWAN working with ACPN, the drug distribution system in the country will get better.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the event, Prof. Lere Baale urged PDWAN to address drug distribution which he said is the most important challenge in the marketing of pharmaceutical products. He also urged the leader of the association to be consistent.
Earlier in his remarks, the National Chairman of PDWAN, Pharm. Ernest Okafor, said the association has come to correct the chaotic drug distribution in the pharmaceutical industry. He said the association will continue to work with all stakeholders to achieve the set aims and objectives of the association.
While speaking in his keynote address, the keynote speaker, Dr Solomon Aigbavboa, charged stakeholders in the industry to commence action to re-shape the supply chain system in Nigeria. According to him, the topic, “Pharmaceutical Supply Chain in Nigeria- Quo Vadis” simply means “where are we going with our Pharma Supply Chains in Nigeria”.
He explained that the pharmaceutical supply chains (PSC) in the country have faced many challenges, which have impacted negatively on the performance of the chains and according to him, the challenges include but not limited to stock-outs and product shortages; fake and counterfeit products; product expiration, corruption, poor Infrastructure, weak regulatory system and disruptions.
To move forward and achieve a resilient, efficient, and effective supply chain system in Nigeria, the keynote speaker said there must be political will and commitment from the government, pharma supply chain education, regulatory harmonisation & cohesion, it-driven channels’ integration as well as collaboration.
While speaking at the panel discussion, one of the panelists, pharm. Chris Ehimen, who is the chairman of Nett Pharmacy stated that drug wholesalers should not be made an all comers affair. He also urged the regulators to consolidate the existing wholesalers, adding that standardisation of players in the distribution system is very important.
The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was ably represented by Dr Monica Eimunjeze, pointed out that standard distribution practice is the focus of the agency, which she said it is a work in progress.
The NAFDAC DG who was also one of the panelists stated that the agency is willing to work with all the stakeholders in the industry for the desired standard distribution practice in the country.
On his part, the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Dr Elijah Mohammed, who was also one of the panelists said there is political will, pointing that the government is doing many things that will enhance drug distribution, but a lot of resistance is coming from stakeholders. Mohammed was represented at the event by the incoming registrar, Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed.
The Managing Director, SKG, Dr Okey Akpa, who was represented at the event by the Managing Director, May & Baker PLC, Pharm. Patrick Ajah, said during the panel discussion that drug distribution costs a lot of money but if wholesalers are situated in various strategic locations in the country, it will solve the problem of drug distribution in the country.
